Transport minister announces major changes in land
transport
SINGAPORE: Major changes are expected in land transport after a
more than year-long review to improve the situation.
In the first three major announcements, Transport Minister Raymond
Lim zoomed in on changes to the bus system, which serves two-thirds
of all commuter trips today.
Speaking at the opening of the Land Transport Gallery, he outlined
the urgency of the problem, stressing that with trips poised to
increase 60 per cent between now and 2020, the only option is to
steer people towards taking more public transport.
For that to happen, Mr Lim said, not just the quantity, but also
the quality of public transport would have to improve
tremendously.
Currently, the system is fragmented between two operators - SBS and
SMRT - which plan the routes based on commercial considerations and
minimum service obligations.
So firstly, the LTA will take over the central planning of the bus
network, with the commuters' ease of journey as the main
focus.
Buses will also get more priority on the roads with more full-day
bus lanes, and making it mandatory for cars to give way to buses at
bus bays.
More integrated public transport hubs, like the ones at Toa Payoh,
Sengkang and Ang Mo Kio, will be upgraded to make transfers easier.
Five more will be upgraded and two more are already being
upgraded.
And more travel information will be made available via panels, text
messages and websites.
The second big change will be to introduce competition
among operators, including opening the market to new
players.
The island will be carved up into different regions and potential
operators will bid for these in a competitive tender.
The third major change is for the LTA to keep its pulse on the
community's transport issues through regular dialogue with
grassroots members.
More changes, including those to the ERP system, are expected in
the following weeks. - CNA/ac/vm
